Measurement method, apparatus, and system for minimization of drive tests

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for minimization of drive tests, and relates to the field of communications technologies. In the technical solutions, by obtaining a mapping relationship between a TCE address and a TCE identifier, and according to a TCE identifier included in the MDT report reported by the UE, a corresponding TCE address is obtained and the MDT report is sent to a TCE corresponding to the TCE address. And it is unnecessary to send an actual TCE network address to the user equipment, which improves security and solves the insecurity problem of the MDT measurement. The present invention is simple, convenient and easy to implement, and reduces the complexity of network signaling interaction and network processing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2012/070116, filed on Jan. 6, 2012, which claims priority toChinese Patent Application No. 201110004039.7, filed on Jan. 10, 2011,both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of communicationstechnologies, and in particular, to a technology of minimization ofdrive tests.

BACKGROUND

A network operator needs to invest much manpower or money to conductdrive tests in the traditional network operation and maintenanceMoreover, a traditional drive test terminal may not reach indoors undersome conditions. It is also difficult to record the traditional drivetests in some sudden network conditions. The MDT (Minimization of DriveTests, minimization of drive tests) aims to reduce the work in thetraditional drive tests conducted by an operator in building andsubsequently maintaining the network, and to introduce a new UE (UserEquipment, user equipment) function to tackle the problem that thetraditional drive tests fail to solve. The UE is required by the MDT torecord a network condition and a location at some time of the UE in aconnected state and an idle state, and to report them to the network atthe right time, thereby replacing part of the work in traditional drivetests.

The current MDT falls into two categories: Immediate MDT (immediate MDT)and Logged MDT (logged MDT). The Immediate MDT is an MDT manner that anetwork performs MDT configurations on a UE according to the RRC (RadioResource Control, radio resource control), and the UE performsmeasurement in a connected state and reports a result immediately. TheLogged MDT is an MDT manner that a network side performs MDTconfigurations on the UE, and the UE transfers into an idle state toperform MDT measurement and log, and performs MDT log (MDT log)reporting after transferring into a connected state.

In the current 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project, ThirdGeneration Partnership Project) standard, the present trace (trace)function has been expanded to implement MDT measurement. A networkmanagement system configures relevant parameters of the MDT in a tracecommand, and sends them to an eNB (Evolved NodeB) or a RNC (RadioNetwork Controller, radio network controller). The foregoing relevantparameters of the MDT include a trace reference (Trace reference) and aTCE (Trace control entity) IP address. After performs MDT measurement,the UE reports an MDT report to the eNB or the RNC, and the eNB or theRNC sends the MDT report to the TCE according to the TCE IP address tocomplete the drive tests. If the UE performs measurement in an idlestate, the trace reference and the TCE IP address need to be configuredfor the UE by the network side through an air interface, so that whenreporting the MDT report, the UE may carry the TCE IP address, therebyallowing the eNB or the RNC to find the corresponding TCE. In anothertechnology, the eNB or the RNC configures the trace reference only forthe UE. After the UE reports the trace report and the MDT report, theeNB or the RNC locally searches for the IP address of the correspondingTCE according to the trace reference. If the eNB or RNC fails to searchfor the IP address, it may ask an NM (Network Manager, network manager)entity for the TCE IP address.

However, direct configuration of the trace reference and the TCE IPaddress to the UE may cause safety issues because safety hazards maylurk in the operator's network once an illegal UE intercepts the TCE IPaddress, identifies the location of the TCE, and attacks the TCE of theoperator directly. However, if the trace reference is only configuredfor the UE, the eNB or the RNC may not be able to determine which NM isthe one that the eNB or the RNC should ask for the TCE IP address,thereby increasing the complexity of signaling interaction of thenetwork and network processing.

SUMMARY

To solve the problem in the prior art, an aspect of the presentinvention provides a measurement method for minimization of drive tests.The method includes: receiving, by an access network equipment, aminimization of drive tests MDT report reported by a user equipment,where the MDT report includes a trace control entity TCE identifier;obtaining, by the access network equipment, a TCE address correspondingto the TCE identifier according to a mapping relationship between theTCE address and the TCE identifier or a mapping algorithm between theTCE address and the TCE identifier; and sending, by the access networkequipment, the MDT report to a TCE corresponding to the TCE address.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a minimization ofdrive tests measurement apparatus. The apparatus includes: a receivingunit, configured to receive a minimization of drive tests MDT reportreported by a user equipment, where the MDT report includes a tracecontrol entity TCE identifier; an obtaining unit, configured to obtain aTCE address corresponding to the TCE identifier according to a mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier or a mappingalgorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier; and a sendingunit, configured to send the MDT report to a TCE corresponding to theTCE address.

In still another aspect, the present invention further provides aminimization of drive tests measurement system, including theminimization of drive tests measurement apparatus.

In still another aspect, the present invention further provides aminimization of drive tests measurement method, including: reporting, bya user equipment, a minimization of drive tests MDT report to an accessnetwork equipment, where the MDT report includes a trace control entityTCE identifier, and the TCE identifier is used by the access networkequipment to obtain a TCE address corresponding to the TCE identifieraccording to a mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier or a mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier and send the MDT report to a TCE corresponding to the TCEaddress.

In still another aspect, the present invention further provides a userequipment, including: a reporting unit, configured to report aminimization of drive tests MDT report to an access network equipment,where the MDT report includes a trace control entity TCE identifier, andthe TCE identifier is used by the access network equipment to obtain aTCE address corresponding to the TCE identifier according to a mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier or a mappingalgorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier and send theMDT report to a TCE corresponding to the TCE address.

In the technical solutions, by obtaining a mapping relationship betweena TCE address and a TCE identifier, and according to a TCE identifierincluded in the MDT report reported by the UE, a corresponding TCEaddress is obtained and the MDT report is sent to a TCE corresponding tothe TCE address to complete the measurement. During the measurement, itis unnecessary to send an actual network address of the TCE to the UE,which improves security and solves the insecurity problem of the MDTmeasurement in the prior art when a TCE IP address is sent to the UE.The technical solutions are simple, convenient, and easy to implement,and reduce the complexity of network signaling interaction and networkprocessing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a minimization of drive tests measurementmethod according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a minimization of drive tests measurementmethod according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart of MDT measurement according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a minimization of drive testsmeasurement apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a simplified structural diagram of a user equipment deviceaccording to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of thepresent invention more comprehensible, the following further describesthe embodiments of the present invention in details with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIG. 1, this embodiment provides a measurement method forminimization of drive tests, including the following contents.

101: An access network equipment receives an MDT report reported by aUE, where the MDT report includes a TCE identifier.

102: The access network equipment obtains a TCE address corresponding tothe TCE identifier according to a mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or a mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier.

103: The access network equipment sends the MDT report to a TCEcorresponding to the TCE address.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the access network equipmentincludes a base station or a base station control equipment, and forexample, may include an eNB or a RNC in an LTE (Long Term Evolution,long term evolution) system.

Optionally, before the access network equipment receives the MDT reportreported by the UE, the access network equipment may send the TCEidentifier to the UE. The access network equipment may also first obtainthe mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier,or the mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier.

Optionally, the method for the access network equipment to obtain themapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier mayincludes: obtaining the mapping relationship between the TCE address andthe TCE identifier from an attribute named TCE address information listof the base station or a cell; or obtaining the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier from an attribute namedTCE address mapping information list of a subnetwork.

Optionally, obtaining, by the access network equipment, the mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier, or themapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier,includes: receiving, by the access network equipment, the mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier or themapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier that issent by an EM (Element Manager, element manager) or reading, by theaccess network equipment, the mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier that is locally stored.

Optionally, the mapping relationship between the TCE address and TCEidentifier, or the mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier, is obtained by the EM from an NM through an interfacenorthbound Itf-N (Interface Northbound).

In the method provided by the embodiment, by obtaining a mappingrelationship between a TCE address and a TCE identifier or a mappingalgorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier, and accordingto the TCE identifier included in the MDT report reported by the UE, acorresponding TCE address is obtained and the MDT report is sent to aTCE corresponding to the TCE address. During the MDT measurement, it isunnecessary to send an actual network address of the TCE to the UE,which improves security and solves the insecurity problem of the MDTmeasurement in the prior art when a TCE IP address is sent to the UE.The method is simple, convenient, and easy to implement, and reduces thecomplexity of network signaling interaction and network processing.

Embodiment 2

Referring to FIG. 2, this embodiment provides a measurement method forminimization of drive tests, including the following contents.

201: An access network equipment obtains a mapping relationship betweena TCE address and a TCE identifier or a mapping algorithm between a TCEaddress and a TCE identifier.

For the TCE address in this embodiment, a TCE IP address is brieflyintroduced as an example. In this embodiment, each TCE identifier mayonly identify a TCE. Specifically, the TCE address may be allotted afixed number. For example, if there are 100 TCEs in a network, each ofthe IP addresses of the 100 TCEs is allotted a unique fixed numbercorrespondingly, to establish a mapping relationship between the TCE IPaddresses and the numbers.

Specifically, obtaining a mapping relationship between a TCE address anda TCE identifier in the step above may be achieved in any one of thefollowing two implementation manners:

a) obtain a mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier from an attribute named TCE address information list of abase station or a cell; or

b) obtain a mapping relationship between the TCE address and TCEidentifier from an attribute named TCE address mapping information listof a subnetwork.

202: The access network equipment sends a TCE identifier correspondingto the TCE address to a UE.

203: When the UE performs MDT measurement, the access network equipmentreceives an MDT report reported by the UE, where the MDT report includesthe TCE identifier.

204: The access network equipment obtains a TCE address corresponding tothe TCE identifier according to the mapping relationship or the mappingalgorithm.

205: The access network equipment sends the MDT report to a TCEcorresponding to the TCE address.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and TCE identifier that is obtained by the access networkequipment includes any one of the following:

a) the access network equipment receives the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithmbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier that is sent by an EM;and

b) the access network equipment reads the mapping relationship betweenthe TCE address and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm betweenthe TCE address and the TCE identifier that is locally stored.

The mapping relationship or the mapping algorithm above is obtained bythe EM from a network manager NM through a interface northbound Itf-N ofa network management. For example, the NM configures the mappingrelationship for the EM through the Itf-N interface and for the eNB orthe RNC through the EM. The eNB or the RNC configures a TCE identifiercorresponding to a TCE IP for the UE. The UE carries the TCE identifierwhen reporting the MDT report. The eNB or the RNC finds a correspondingactual TCE IP address according to the TCE identifier and transmits theMDT report to the TCE according to the actual TCE IP address.

In a 3GPP network management system, an Itf-N is an interface betweenthe network and the network management system, specifically, maybe aninterface between an NM and an EM. An Itf-B is an interface between abase station and its management unit, and an Itf-R is an interfacebetween a RNC and its management unit. For example, refer to FIG. 3,which shows that the Itf-N serves as the interface between the NM andthe EM. The EM configures a mapping relationship or a mapping algorithmbetween a TCE IP address and a TCE identifier through the Itf-N. (1)indicates that the EM uniformly configures a mapping relationship or amapping algorithm between a TCE IP address and a TCE identifier, and theTCE IP address, for eNB/RNC1 and eNB/RNC2. (2) indicates that theeNB/RNC only configures the TCE identifier that has been mapped or aresult that has been computed according to the mapping algorithm for theUE. (3) indicates that the UE feeds back the TCE identifier and thecomputation result to the eNB/RNC when reporting the MDT report. (4)indicates that the eNB/RNC converts the TCE identifier into the actualTCE IP address according to the mapping relationship or converts thecomputation result into the actual TCE IP address according to themapping algorithm, and sends the corresponding MDT report to a TCEcorresponding to the TCE IP address.

For another example, when through an EM delivering a command by theItf-N interface, the EM obtains a mapping relationship or a mappingalgorithm between a TCE identifier and a TCE address that is specifiedby a operator , the EM may configure the mapping relationship or themapping algorithm for the eNB/cell/RNC corresponding to the MDT. TheeNB/cell/RNC may also obtain the mapping relationship or mappingalgorithm by sending an inquiry request to the EM. Alternatively, themapping relationship or the mapping algorithm is stored fixedly in theeNB/cell/RNC. When the MDT activates a task, the eNB/cell/RNC deliversthe TCE identifier or mapped computation result to a Logged MDT UErather than directly delivering the TCE IP address. When receiving datareported by the MDT, the eNB/cell/RNC obtains the TCE identifier ormapped computation result from the reported data, thereby obtainingwhich TCE address (for example, an IP address) the data needs to beforwarded, and ensuring that MDT data is reported to the correspondingTCE when it is time for the eNB/cell/RNC to report the data. A networkside and UE only send the TCE identifier or the mapped computationresult rather than the actual TCE IP address, thereby ensuring thesecurity of MDT measurement.

The following examples are provided to describe the process of thenewly-added attribute definition of a mapping relationship between a TCEaddress and a TCE identifier in attributes of an eNB, a cell, or asubnetwork.

1. Attributes of eNB

Configuration parameters based on a base station function (ENBFunction)are added to the existing 3GPP TS 32.762. For example, as an optionalembodiment, an attribute named TCE IP address information list(TCEIpAddressInfoList) may be added to the attributes (Attributes) inthe section related to the base station function (ENBFunction). SeeTable 1:

TABLE 1 Support Read Qualifier Qualifier Attribute name (Support (ReadWrite Qualifier (Attribute name) Qualifier) Qualifier) (Write Qualifier). . . . . . . . . . . . TCE IP address information CM M M list(TCEIpAddressInfoList)

Wherein, TCE IP address information list (TCEIpAddressInfoList) is anewly-added attribute named TCE IP address information list, which isboth readable and writable (M stands for mandatory). Under certainconditions, the attribute is mandatory (CM). The certain conditions maybe defined in attribute constraints (Attribute constraints). See Table2:

TABLE 2 Name (Name) Definition (Definition) . . . . . . AttributeConstrains of TCE IP address MDT function is supported information list(TCEIpAddressInfoList (The condition is Support Qualifier) “MDT functionis supported”).

It is stipulated that the field TCE IP address information list isapplicable only under the condition “The MDT function is supported”.

Additionally, as another optional embodiment, the attribute named TCE IPaddress information list (TCEIpAddressInfoList) may also be defined inthe section concerning the attributes definitions and legal values(Attributes definitions and legal values) in the 3GPP TS 32.762. SeeTable 3:

TABLE 3 Attribute Name Definition Legal Values (Attribute Name)(Definition) (Legal Values) TCE IP address This attribute contains theinformation list a mapping relationship (TCEIpAddressInfoList) between aTCE IP address and a TCE identifier (This attribute contains the mappinginformation of TCEIpaddress and unique identifier.)

The attribute TCE IP address information list (TCEIpAddressInfoList), isused to define a mapping relationship between a TCE IP address and a TCEidentifier. This parameter may serve as a configuration parameter forthe eNB/RNC by a network management system. During the configuration,the attribute TCEIpAddressInfoList is delivered to the EM from the NM,to allow the operator to specify a mapping relationship between a TCE IPaddress and a TCE identifier to a relevant network element. At the sametime, it is stipulated that the field is applicable only under thecondition that the MDT function is supported.

2. Attributes of Cell

A mapping relationship between a TCE IP address and a unique TCEidentifier that is delivered through the Itf-N interface may also be seton a cell object. For example, in the section concerning a cellEUtranGenericCell in the existing 3GPP TS 32.762 standard, an attributeTCE IP address information list (TCEIpAddressInfoList) is added to theattributes of the cell. See Table 4:

TABLE 4 Support Read Write Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier Attribute Name(Support (Read (Write (Attribute Name) Qualifier) Qualifier) Qualifier). . . . . . . . . . . . TCE IP address information list CM M M(TCEIpaddressInfoList)

The mapping relationship between the TCE IP address and the unique TCEidentifier is set in the field TCEIPAddressInfoList. After receiving aconfiguration command, the EM may obtain the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier that is specified by theoperator.

3. Attributes of Subnetwork

A mapping relationship between a TCE IP address and a unique TCEidentifier that is delivered through the Itf-N interface may also be seton a subnetwork (Subnetwork) object. For example, in the existing 3GPPTS 32.622 standard, the configuration parameter based on the Subnetworkis added. Specifically, the attribute named TCE IP address mappinginformation list (TCEIpaddressMappingInfoList) may be added to theattributes (Attributes) of the SubNetwork. See Table 5:

TABLE 5 Support Read Write Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier Attribute Name(Support (Read (Write (Attribute Name) Qualifier) Qualifier) Qualifier). . . . . . . . . . . . TCE IP address mapping information CM M M list(TCEIpaddressInfoList)

The attribute TCE IP address mapping information list(TCEIpaddressMappingInfoList) defines a mapping relationship between aTCE IP address and a TCE identifier, and a base station corresponding tothe mapping relationship.

Optionally, the attribute TCE IP address mapping information list mayalso be defined in the section concerning definition and legal values(Definition and legal values) in the 3GPP TS 32.622 standard. See Table6:

TABLE 6 Attribute Name Definition Legal Values (Attribute Name)(Definition) (Legal Values) TCE IP address mapping The value of thisattribute information list shall include the mapping(TCEIpaddressInfoList) information of: {eNodeB, TCE IP Address MappingInfo List which includes Mapping information of TCE IP addresses and thecorresponding unique identifier}

The definition of the attribute TCE IP address mapping information list(TCEIpaddressMappingInfoList) includes: {eNodeB, TCE address informationlist (which defines a mapping relationship between a TCE IP address anda TCE identifier). For example, the specified mapping relationship isconfigured for or stored fixedly in a specified eNodeB by a specifyingan eNodeB ID.

In this embodiment, the mapping algorithm the TCE address and the TCEidentifier is the mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier, and according to the mapping algorithm, a unique TCEidentifier may be obtained by computing the TCE address. Reversibly, theTCE address may be computed and obtained according to the TCEidentifier. Therefore, an MDT report reported by the UE may be sent to aTCE corresponding to the TCE address, thereby avoiding sending theactual TCE IP address to the UE, and improving the security.

The base station may process a TCE IP address according to a uniquemapping algorithm. For example, if a network has 100 TCEs, each of the100 TCE IP addresses is plus five and modulo two. Then, thecorresponding mapping algorithm is uniformly configured by an OAM(Operation Administration and Maintenance, operation administration andmaintenance) system for the eNB or the RNC, which configures acomputation result for the UE. When reporting the MDT report, the UEcarries the result, which allows the eNB or the RNC to compute the TCEIP address according to the mapping algorithm and find the correspondingactual TCE. In the embodiment of the present invention, the mappingalgorithm comes in a plurality of forms; the “plus five and modulo two”is only used as an example. Definitely, other algorithms may also beadopted. The embodiments of the present inventions set no limitation onthe form.

In this embodiment, all the base stations or RNCs may be required toadopt the same mapping relationship or mapping algorithm, which may befixed, or configured and replaced regularly by the OAM.

In the method provided by this embodiment, by obtaining a mappingrelationship between a TCE address and TCE identifier and according tothe TCE identifier included in the MDT report reported by the UE, acorresponding TCE address is obtained, and the MDT report is sent to aTCE corresponding to the TCE address. During the measurement, it isunnecessary to send an actual network address of the TCE to the UE,which improves security and solves the insecurity problem of the MDTmeasurement in the prior art when a TCE IP address is sent to the UE.The method is simple, convenient, and easy to implement, and reduces thecomplexity of network signaling interaction and network processing.

Embodiment 3

Referring to FIG. 4, this embodiment provides a measurement apparatusfor minimization of drive tests, including a receiving unit 401, anobtaining unit 402, and a sending unit 403. The receiving unit 401 isconfigured to receive a minimization of drive tests MDT report reportedby a user equipment, where the MDT report includes a trace controlentity TCE identifier; the obtaining unit 402 is configured to obtain aTCE address corresponding to the TCE identifier according to a mappingrelationship between a TCE address and TCE identifier or a mappingalgorithm between a TCE address and a TCE identifier; and the sendingunit 403 is configured to send the MDT report to a TCE corresponding tothe TCE address.

In this embodiment, the obtaining unit 402 is further configured toobtain a mapping relationship between a TCE address and a TCE identifieror a mapping algorithm between a TCE address and a TCE identifier.

Optionally, the sending unit 403 is further configured to send the TCEidentifier to the user equipment.

Optionally, the obtaining unit 402 may include a first obtaining subunitor a second obtaining subunit, where the first obtaining subunit isconfigured to obtain the mapping relationship between the TCE addressand the TCE identifier in an attribute named TCE IP address informationlist of a base station or a cell, and the second obtaining subunit isconfigured to obtain the mapping relationship between the TCE addressand the TCE identifier in an attribute named TCE IP address mappinginformation list of a sub-network.

Optionally, the obtaining unit 402 may further include: a thirdobtaining subunit or a fourth obtaining subunit, where the thirdobtaining subunit is configured to receive the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithmbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier that is sent by anelement manager EM, and the fourth obtaining subunit is configured toread the mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier that is stored by the apparatus.

The mapping relationship or the mapping algorithm involved in the thirdobtaining subunit is obtained from a network manager NM through aninterface northbound Itf-N.

In this embodiment, the measurement apparatus for minimization of drivetests may specifically be an access network equipment of a network side,including a base station or base station control equipment, and such asan eNB or a RNC in an LIE system. The method in any of the methodembodiments may be implemented on this apparatus. The details of thespecific implementation process are referred to in the methodembodiments, which are not repeated again herein.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a measurementsystem for minimization of drive tests, including the measurementapparatus for minimization of drive tests in any one of theimplementation manners in the embodiments above.

In the apparatus and system provided by the embodiment of the presentinvention, by obtaining a mapping relationship between a TCE address andTCE identifier and according to the TCE identifier included in the MDTreport reported by the UE, a corresponding TCE address is obtained, theMDT report is sent to a TCE corresponding to the TCE address. During themeasurement, it is unnecessary to send an actual network address of theTCE to the UE, which improves security and solves the insecurity problemof the MDT measurement in the prior art when a TCE IP address is sent tothe UE. The apparatus and system are simple, convenient, and easy toimplement, and reduce the complexity of network signaling interactionand network processing.

It should be finally noted that, persons of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that all or part of the processes of the methods inthe embodiments may be implemented by a computer program instructingrelevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer readablestorage medium. When the program is running, the processes of themethods in the embodiments are performed. The storage medium may be amagnetic disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM) or a randomaccess memory (RAM), and the like.

Functional units in the embodiments of the present invention may beintegrated into a processing module, or each of units may exist alonephysically, or two or more units are integrated into a module. Theintegrated modules may be implemented in a form of hardware or in a formof software functional modules. If the integrated modules areimplemented in the form of software functional modules and sold or usedas an independent product, the integrated modules may also be stored ina computer readable storage medium. The storage medium may be aread-only memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and the like. Theabove apparatuses and systems may perform the methods described in thecorresponding method embodiments.

The descriptions are merely exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, but are not intended to limit the present invention. Anymodification, equivalent replacement, or improvement derived within thespirit and principle of the present invention shall fall within theprotection scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reporting minimization of drivetests (MDT) data, comprising: receiving, by an access network device, anMDT report from a user equipment device (UE), wherein the MDT reportcomprises MDT data and a trace control entity (TCE) identifier;obtaining, by the access network device, a TCE address corresponding tothe TCE identifier according to a mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or a mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier; and sending, by the access networkdevice, the MDT data in the MDT report to a TCE corresponding to the TCEaddress.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:obtaining, by the access network device, the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithmbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier.
 3. The method accordingto claim 2, wherein obtaining, by the access network device, the mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier comprises:obtaining, by the access network device, the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier from an attribute of abase station or a cell.
 4. The method according to claim 2, whereinobtaining, by the access network device, the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithmbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier comprises: receiving, bythe access network device, the mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier from an element manager (EM).
 5. Themethod according to claim 4, wherein the mapping relationship or themapping algorithm is obtained by the EM from a network manager (NM)through an interface northbound (Itf-N).
 6. The method according toclaim 2, wherein obtaining, by the access network device, the mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier comprises:obtaining, by the access network device, the mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier from an attribute of asubnetwork.
 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein obtaining, bythe access network device, the mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier comprises: reading, by the access networkdevice, the mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCEidentifier from a local storage medium.
 8. The method according to claim1, further comprising: sending, by the access network device, the TCEidentifier to the UE before the access network device receives the MDTreport from the UE.
 9. An apparatus, comprising: a receiver, configuredto receive a minimization of drive tests (MDT) report from a userequipment device (UE), wherein the MDT report comprises MDT data and atrace control entity (TCE) identifier; a processor, configured to obtaina TCE address corresponding to the TCE identifier according to a mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier or a mappingalgorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier; and atransmitter, configured to send the MDT data in the MDT report to a TCEcorresponding to the TCE address.
 10. The apparatus according to claim9, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier or themapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier. 11.The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in obtaining the mappingrelationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier, theprocessor is configured to obtain the mapping relationship between theTCE address and the TCE identifier from an attribute of a base stationor a cell.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in obtainingthe mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifieror the mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier,the processor is configured to obtain the mapping relationship betweenthe TCE address and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm betweenthe TCE address and the TCE identifier from an element manager (EM). 13.The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the mapping relationship orthe mapping algorithm is obtained by the EM from a network manager (NM)through an interface northbound (Itf-N).
 14. The apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein in obtaining the mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier, the processor is configured to obtainthe mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifierfrom an attribute of a subnetwork.
 15. The apparatus according to claim10, wherein in obtaining the mapping relationship between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier or the mapping algorithm between the TCEaddress and the TCE identifier, the processor is configured to read themapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier orthe mapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifierfrom a local storage medium.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the TCE identifierto the UE before the receiver receives the MDT report from the UE.
 17. Amethod for reporting minimization of drive tests (MDT) data, comprising:obtaining, by a user equipment device (UE), an MDT report; and sending,by the UE, the MDT report to an access network device, wherein the MDTreport comprises MDT data and a trace control entity (TCE) identifier,wherein the TCE identifier is used by the access network device toobtain a TCE address corresponding to the TCE identifier according to amapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier or amapping algorithm between the TCE address and the TCE identifier, andthe TCE address is used by the access network device to send the MDTdata in the MDT report to a TCE corresponding to the TCE address. 18.The method according to claim 17, further comprising: receiving, by theUE, the TCE identifier from the access network device before sending theMDT report to the access network device.
 19. A user equipment device(UE), comprising: a processor, configured to obtain a minimization ofdrive tests (MDT) report, wherein the MDT report comprises MDT data anda trace control entity (TCE) identifier; a transmitter, configured tosend the MDT report to an access network device, wherein the TCEidentifier is used by the access network device to obtain a TCE addresscorresponding to the TCE identifier according to a mapping relationshipbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier or a mapping algorithmbetween the TCE address and the TCE identifier, and the TCE address isused by the access network device to send the MDT data in the MDT reportto a TCE corresponding to the TCE address.
 20. The UE according to claim19, further comprising: a receiver, configured to receive the TCEidentifier from the access network device before the transmitter sendsthe MDT report to the access network device.